KATHLEEN SZMIT PHOTO
DRAMATIC DUO – Ralph Bousquet and Matt Kohler take a break from building sets for the upcoming production of Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night. The show, directed by Kohler and assisted by Bousquet, opens tonight (July 30) at Barnstable High School.

BHS grads keep tradition alive

In the theater world there is a familiar adage that “the show must go on,” meaning that when trouble arises onstage, keep the action going.

This summer two Barnstable High School graduates, with the help of many talented peers, took that message to heart.

When Matt Kohler and Ralph Bousquet heard that there would not be a Barnstable Summer Family Theater Shakespeare show this season, they did what any arts-loving duo would do: took it upon themselves to put a show together.

This weekend celebrates the debut of Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night at Barnstable High School. It is the second show to appear on the stage of the Knight Auditorium that Kohler directed, with last winter’s The Red Lamp being his first.

It was the experience of putting together The Red Lamp that inspired Kohler to try his hand at Shakespeare.

“The Red Lamp was a whole lot of fun,” said Kohler. “Everyone involved with that show decided they wanted to do a summer show.”

Upon learning the regular BHS show wouldn’t be happening, Kohler put the word out to his theatrical pals that he would be holding auditions in his living room.

To ensure the production’s quality, Kohler enlisted the assistance of Bousquet, who is in charge of sound, backstage, and set building. The talented guitarist is also creating a musical soundtrack for the show.

For Kohler the decision to immerse himself in the often-chaotic world of live theater was a no-brainer.

“If I do any work other than theater work I just hate it,” he said. “If I went through this entire summer without doing any theater, I don’t know what I would have done.”

The theater bug bit both Kohler and Bousquet as students at BHS. Both were longtime members of the Barnstable High School Drama Club, with Kohler appearing onstage in numerous productions and Bousquet proving a masterful carpenter backstage.

While Kohler possessed a natural affinity for the theatrical arts, Bousquet admitted that his motives for joining the BHSDC were… simpler.

“I started it for the girls,” he said with a grin, noting that it was through the BHSDC that he met his longtime girlfriend, artist Vanessa Varjian. “So that worked out well.”

Kohler, who also plays a part in the show, is anxious for opening night.

“Opening night is my favorite,” he said. “As soon as the show starts all the stress for me is gone. Then it’s in the actors’ hands.”

“These shows are awesome,” said Bousquet, “Because we have total creative control over the show, which we didn’t in high school.”

Because creative control appeals to the two, both hope to parlay their talents into bigger adventures in the future. Bousquet has his sights set on a recording contract, while Kohler would love to open his own theater, possibly in Hyannis.

“Hopefully we’ll get to move on to bigger places,” said Bousquet.

For now, though, the Knight Auditorium works just fine.

“This is close to my 25th show at BHS,” said Bousquet. “It’s just where I’m comfortable. I’ve done so many shows in here. You build a relationship with every venue you work with.”

“The Knight is very personal,” said Kohler. “I never thought I’d be back here at BHS [directing a show]. It’s cool.”

Twelfth Night opens July 30 at 7 p.m. at the Knight Auditorium at Barnstable High School and runs July 30 and 31, and Aug. 6 and 7 at 7 p.m., and at 2 p.m. Aug. 1. Tickets are $10 at the door.